Thousands of votes have been cast by the public to select 100 objects that feature in a new exhibition at the refurbished Hull Maritime Museum, joining many hundreds more as part of the new exciting displays.
The People’s Choice exhibition will see some objects go on display for the first time.
In the last three months 200 objects have competed for a place in the new exhibition. More than 10,900 online votes via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have been placed in the People’s Choice project. This was the first main opportunity for the public to get involved and as the Hull Maritime scheme develops many more opportunities will arise.
Robin Diaper, Curator of Maritime and Social History, said: “I have been overwhelmed with the level of voting from the public. It has been great to see people’s reactions, memories and stories as the artefacts have been shared.
“The Hull Maritime project is all about community engagement, involving people every step of the way and this will continue as we progress with our plans for all the sites involved.”
The online poll has been enjoyed by many, and people have shared their feedback.
“Going to miss making our #PeoplesChoice every day. Can’t wait to see the exhibition.”
“Thanks for the opportunity to take part in something like this. I look forward to coming to see The Peoples Choice when you reopen.”
“Thanks for letting us be part of the new museum. Looking forward to getting involved in future…”
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of #peopleschoice. Thank you for sharing the treasures our museum has.”
“Loved this, a brilliant way to engage the public and create a sense of being a part of something which we have a say in. Well done Thanks for the fun and opportunity to discover some of the less seen collections. Hope the public choices create a new interpretive approach that visitors will enjoy.”
Work on integrating the People’s Choice items into our exhibition plans will be now be progressed by our exhibition designers, along with other extensive plans. Now, that the artefacts have been chosen it will also help to inform our plans to pack and move 50,000 objects out of the museum and into storage prior to the refurbishment works.
As more of the Grade II*-listed Victorian Hull Maritime Museum is opened up, 50 per cent more objects will go on public display when the museum reopens in 2024, after an £11m refurbishment.
The museum’s refurbishment is part of a £30m project. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hull City Council the project will transform some of Hull’s key maritime sites, including North End Shipyard, Dock Office Chambers, the trawler Arctic Corsair and the Spurn Lightship.
